Timing mechanism.



G. R. MOORE.

TIMING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 11.19, 1911.

1,033,030. Patented July 16, 1912 Wz'zn e55 es; 1720377221). v

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110-. WASHINGTON, n. c.

movement of said member.

UNTTE CHARLES R. MOORE, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

TIMING MECHANISM.

osaoao.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLns R. Moonn, citizen of the United States,residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State ofIndiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in TimingMechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to timing mechanism and is of particular service inconnection with pendulum clocks, though it is not to be limited to thisclass of devices.

My invention has for its object the provision of improved means formaintaining uniform swinging movement of the oscillating members oftiming devices which employ the same.

In practising my invention I employ a mechanical load, as distinguishedfrom an electro-magnetic load, which mechanical load is suitably appliedto the oscillating member preferably once in each cycle of I employmeans for restoring the mechanical load to normal each time after it hasperformed its function, the restoring means being also preferablymechanical. This restoring means desirably also operates as an arrestingdevice for holding the mechanical load in the normal or idle position towhich it has been put. Electro-magnetic means are employed forwithdrawing the support of the arresting or mechanical load holdingdevice, this electro-magnetic means having an electromagnet whosewinding is included in a circuit that is governed by a switching devicewhose operation is controlled by the oscillating member of the timingdevice. Once, preferably, in each cycle of movement of the oscillatingmember, a switch element is brought into circuit closing or governingrelation with another switch element in order that said electro-magnetmay operate upon the mechanical load holding device to withdraw thesupport from the mechanical load and permit the mechanical load tooperate upon the oscillating member to maintain the amplitude of theoscillations of the oscillating member constant. The mechanical loaddesirably exercises its function through a part of the switching device.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Serial No. 622,160.

showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a viewin front elevation, the circuit connections being diagrammaticallyindicated; Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation, circuit connect-ionsbeing also indicated in this figure.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference in bothfigures.

The type of timing mechanism shown in the drawing is one which includesan oscillating member comprising a pendulum rod 1 carrying a pendulumbob or weight 2 at its lower end and which is adjustable slightly alongthe length of the rod by means of well understood mechanism 3. Thependulum rod is swingingly mounted at its upper end by means of a steelblade or ribbon A riveted at its lower end to the upper end of thependulum rod and fastened at its upper end to a bracket 5. The bracket 5is mounted upon but insulated from a mounting plate 6. A rigidlymountedpost 7 projects forwardly from the plate 6 and is desirablyinsulated therefrom. A block 8 is slipped over the post and may be heldin any rotatably adjusted position by means of a set screw 9. A spring10, which constitutes the preferred form of mechanical load formaintaining the amplitude of the pendulum 0scillations uniform, isrigidly secured at one end to the block 8. The spring 10 is preferablyin the form of a leaf spring and its tension (adjustable by turning theblock 8) is such that the free or unmounted end thereof moves downwardlywhen free so to do.

I employ a load holding device, which desirably performs its functionmechanically, for maintaining the free end of the spring 10 at the upperlimit of its movement, this upper limit desirably being adjustablydetermined by means of a stop 11. The load holding device which I preferis one which includes a strip metal spring 12 anchored at one end to ablock 18 rotatably adjustable upon a post 1% and which block is securedin its adjustment by a set screw 15. The spring 12 is placed under suchtension that it will move upwardly when assuming a natural position. Inthis position the spring 12, which is stronger than the spring 10, willhold the free end of the spring 10 against its stop 11. The spring 12desirably carries the piece 16 upon its free end for the purpose ofaffording the means through which the spring 12 exercises its function.The spring 12 also carries an armature 17 that forms a part of themagnetic circuit of an electro-magnet 18. The winding of thiselectro.magnet is included in a circuit, here shown to be normally open,that also includes a circuit contact terminal 19 carried by the pendulumrod or oscillating member, the metallic ribbon -l-, battery 20, the loadspring 10 and the contact 21 carried by the load spring and preferablymounted upon the lower end of an arm 22 projecting downwardly from andattached to the load spring 10 in the neighborhood of its free end. Thecontacts 19 and 21 are so relatively positioned that they will beengaged slightly before the pendulum reaches one of its extremepositions, the lower end of the arm 22 being pressed by spring 10 toenable the contact 21 to yield slightly in the direction in which thependulum is moving, whereby good electrical engagement between thecontacts is assured. W hen the contacts 19 and have become engaged, thecircuit including the electro-magnet- 18 is closed, this electro-magnetbeing of sufficient strength to depress the spring 12 in order to permitthe spring 10 to move downwardly at its free end and thereby exert apush upon the pendulum rod for the purpose which has been stated. Thecontact 21 follows the contact 19 through a slight portion of the returnmovement of the pendulum rod so that the spring 12 is maintained out ofaction a sullicient length of time to allow the spring 10 to perform itsfunction. As the return movement of the rod continues, the contacts 19and 21 become separated, whereupon the armature 17 is released and thespring 12 which carries the armature is permitted to move upwardly atits free end thereby to move the free end of the weaker spring 10upwardly, power thereby being again stored in the spring 10 by placingit under tension to enable it to exert a push upon the pendulum rod whensaid pendulum rod returns to that position in which the contacts 19 and21 are closed. It will be observed that the push upon the pendulum rodis exerted by a force which is uniform, which result is accom plished bya mechanical agency as distinguished from an electro-magnetic agency. Asa consequence, the desired result is secured independently of thebattery strength so that there is no variation in the auxiliary forceapplied to the pendulum, it being immaterial what the battery strengthis so long as it is sutlicient properly to energize the magnet.

An important characteristic of my invention resides in the use of aswitching device having a member through which the load, mechanical orotherwise, exerts its effect upon the pendulum, experiment having proventhat the pressure necessary to drive the pendulum is sufficient forestablishing the electrical. circuit if the contacts are properly madeand are composed of suitable material such as platinum.

lVhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction and circuit arrangement shown as changes may readily bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following Timing mechanism including anoscillating member; a spring for intermittent driving engagementwith theoscillating member to maintain the amplitude of the oscillations of saidoscillating member substan tially uniform; a second spring of sufficientstrength to place the aforesaid spring under tension and break itsdriving engagement with the oscillating member; a stop for limiting theextent to which the first. spring may be moved by the second spring;electromagnetic means for removing the influence of the second aforesaidspring from the first aforesaid spring to permit the first aforesaidspring to perform its function; and a circuit changing switching devicefor governing the electromagnetic means and in turn governed by saidoscillating member, said switching device including a circuit makingportion moving with the oscillating member and a circuit making portionmoving with the first aforesaid spring and through which circuit makingportions the first aforesaid spring exercises its mechanical functionupon the oscillating member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of MarchA. D, 1911.

CHAS. R. MOORE.

lVitnesses NIBLE HINER, Jos. A. ANDREW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents,

' Washington, 1). G.

